nuggets: summer

June 22, 2018

Nuggets: bits of the season in photos and words

We’ve tripped and landed in summer. Really, what it is about May? It seems that we all try to cram a bunch into those last weeks before school is out. I know I do, squeezing into my daughters’ classrooms every chance I can get, gripping the reins on 2nd and 4th grades, trying to slow this wagon down.

No luck in slowing it down, all the luck in feeling the bumps and bliss of time’s trustworthy road.

We don’t have lots of plans this summer. Just one week of theater camp for the kids and our week at the lake. The rest will be imaginative games born of boredom, sibling squabbles in the hammock, high hopes lemonade stands, skipping stones at the river and outside play with neighbor kids.

I did, however, do a first: I marked out a few weekends for backpacking and bike camping in response to our summer getting away from us last year. My usual spontaneity didn’t pay off because once fire season started, adventure stopped and I was left feeling like we hadn’t summered enough.

nuggets.

:: Andy and I wrote a manifesto last year, detailing some things we want to accomplish now, in one year, in 5 years, 10 years. One thing that came up was wanting to make annual one-on-one, parent-kid adventures happen every year. Recently, Andy took Margot to Seattle for the weekend for a jump rope comp while Ruby and I sweated through a bananas tick hatch and other various unsavory hardships at a friend’s cabin and ultimately decided to call it and drive home at 10pm.

As we drove down the steep rutted out road, we processed the let down/relief in going home together. She said, “I could be standing on a pile of pins and it’d be ok if I was with you.” Gosh I agree my girl.

:: I really want to take Margot to see Hamilton for our 2018 adventure but don’t think it’s in the cards so am searching for other live theater to travel to see with her. Hoping she’ll do my hair.

:: Tiny peaches.

:: We had a frost on June 11. Really glad I grumbled out of bed at 10 the night before to cover my beloveds.

:: As we pulled into the drive a few days ago my kids shrieked, “mama look out!” and this little baby robin was sitting just next to our crushing tire. 100% camouflaged by the asphalt. What to do? My instinct is always to help if I can so I picked up this disoriented buddy (I know where the nest is) and then four robins told me that was not the plan as they dive bombed me, which caused great excitement and panic in my children. So I set her down and nudged the little dinosaur into the grass where we watched the robins fetch worms and feed her on the ground for several days and then that baby flew on.

:: Morel hunting has been rocking great this year.

:: Dog face.

:: We bought a condo. What?! It’s true. You all ask often about visiting western Montana and we’re excited to be able to host you in our small space in downtown Missoula. It’s outfitted with local, original art and includes our personal insight and coupons for locally owned businesses we love. We promise to not be in the bed when you arrive. Be our guest! You can see more on airbnb and you can also book directly through me (hello AT digthischick.net) and get a special diggy deal.

:: Rhubarb pie.

:: I wrote an article about a recent weekend I spent at the Mama Summit, an event put on by Moms Clean Air Force and Montana Mountain Mamas. The inspiring weekend focused on environmental stewardship and civic service. Moms birthed every human and their thoughts are often marginalized, trivialized and wrapped in a cute contextual package of snack making, snot wiping, soccer shuttling and laundry folding. Our opinions are framed as sweet or funny. Moms have to fight a little harder and speak a little louder to be taken seriously. But moms are up for that challenge. We create movements. Take us seriously.Click here to read more.

:: It takes 30 minutes to bike from our house to my parents new house. ♥

:: Lots of baking in our future this summer.

:: Margot: I have so much I want to do this summer! 1: 10 push ups every day. 2: finish Harry Potter, Land of Stories and Flora & Ulysses. 3: Facetime my cousins every week for three hours. 4: Practice five-strand braids. 5: and this sounds kind of crazy but I want to break something to see what it feels like. Just like my arm or leg or something.

from her Seaside, OR jump rope comp in April

:: We camped last weekend and I can’t wait for lots of *this* this summer.

:: Ruby, regarding mosquitos: I mean, I really don’t mind it they take my blood but WHY do they have to itch?!

:: I did a little tutorial over on my instagram stories about how I mend jeans. It’s pinned to the top of my profile (yes: you can watch via that link/you don’t need an ig account). I even have an up close photo of my rear which is well outside my comfort zone but Andy made me laugh as I posed by the barbed wire. All for you guys! Love you.

:: Our bed often feels so small.

:: 21 years ago I’d dropped out of college my freshman year because I was depressed and bulimic. I spent a few months in a treatment center, got out and needed to get away. Home to Montana I went, to live with my aunt and uncle for the summer. In my journal I vowed no dating, no boys at all, just me and my health. The day I arrived, Andy was waiting in the kitchen with my cousin. Waiting for me, he later told me. We spent the next day – June 15, 1997 – on the Beartooth Pass. We kissed that night. And that was that.

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11 Comments

Trbholt

June 22, 2018 at 8:03 AM

“The day I arrived, Andy was waiting in the kitchen with my cousin. Waiting for me, he later told me. We spent the next day – June 15, 1997 – on the Beartooth Pass. We kissed that night. And that was that.” LOVE!
xoxo.
Your Mama

Hana Tawathie

June 22, 2018 at 8:19 AM

Been missing your words, glad you are back! Happy summer shenanigans!

Kristen

June 22, 2018 at 9:20 AM

Wow. I somehow did not know this about you and have been reading for years. And years.

I graduated from college in 1997, also had depression and an eating disorder, also moved (not home but across the country to Los Angeles) and also met my husband on my first day on my new (healing/getting it together/escaping but eventually dealing with it) adventure.

❤️

Jennifer

June 22, 2018 at 10:40 AM

Your writing. I have SO missed your writing. Thank you for what you put out into the world, I so appreciate your way-finding words. I turn to this blog (the very top of my slim few must-read blogs) to help remind me of what is good and true, a balm to the disaster at the helm of American politics right now. Everything about the news hurts these days and so I send a deep thank you for your words – they make me want to pitch my tent oceanside, pick up my pen, bake a pecan pie, meander along a river, hug my two littles, nuzzle my two American rescue dogs (they remind me of the good in America!) and accompany my husband on a trip to Bozeman, Montana so that he can follow his guitar-playing passion. Yes, indeed, your State is spectacular. My feet were on sun-baked ground in Yellowstone yesterday and I moved back to appreciation for this one beautiful life.